Goose Island's Newest Belgian Style Ales

Goose Island has created two more Belgian-Style Ales this year - Madame Rose and Lolita.

Madame Rose is a Belgian Style Brown Ale brewed with cherries and aged in wine barrels. According to their beer calendar, it was available at the Goose Island Brewpub back in July. Strange, because I never saw it there the couple times I went in July.

Lolita is a rose colored Belgian Style Pale Ale fermented with wild yeasts and aged with raspberries in wine barrels. This beer is an October only release, so there should hopefully still be some left at the brewpub (unfortunately, the only place to get it). Also, Lolita is a silver medal winner in the Fruit Beer category at the 2010 World Beer Cup.

Hoping to get my hands on some Lolita this month - if I do, a review will follow soon!

Jinxed Again

Three Floyd's Jinx Proof has a very interesting backstory. It may be the only beer to be brewed in collaboration with a tattoo studio - it was created to celebrate Jinx Proof Tattoo Studio's 13th anniversary.

Jinx Proof is described as a "refreshing continental-style pils [that] has a light body combined with a pronounced noble hop aroma and a crisp dry finish". (from the 3 Floyds Blog)

Unfortunately, it is now impossible to find another bottle of Jinx Proof for three reasons: It was only released as a seasonal bomber (22 oz bottle), only sold in June, and only sold at the Three Floyds Brewpub in Munster, Indiana. Hopefully there will be more next June, but it is very  doubtful.

Jinx Proof
Brewery: Three Floyds
Country: USA (Indiana)
Style: Dortmunder / Export Lager
ABV: 5.1%
IBUs: 35
Serving Type: 22oz Bottle
Cost: N/A

Appearance: Unfiltered. Bright amber color with mild carbonation. Not a lot of head, maybe a half finger tops. Left a small amount of lacing.

Aroma: Smelled a lot like cereal grains and floral hops.

Taste: Jinx Proof had a very malty bread taste to it. I did also notice a slight hoppiness, but it wasn't as strong as I expected from a Three Floyds beer. The aftertaste had very little bitterness, making this beer smooth and refreshing.

Drinkability: Very smooth, refreshing, and easy to drink - perfect on a warm day.

Verdict: A very good lager! I'm usually more partial to ales over lagers, but this one would be a repeat - that is, if it is ever sold again.

I Think Its Time For An Update

Or, more accurately, a few hundred updates and reviews. A lot has happened in the last two months that I haven't posted anything about, and after starting up a new job I ended up putting INMT on hold for awhile. Then kinda just forgot about it. I've tried plenty of new beers since then, been to a Dogfish Head beer dinner, and found out about a few new and interesting things in brewing - all of which will hopefully be posted about (very late, unfortunately). This blog has had a very slow start and a few temporary abandonments, but I don't want to let it just die off right now. I could always use a few contributing writers and reviewers, if anyone is interested.

Coming up soon: Three Floyd's Jinx Proof, Stone's version of the Saison Du Buff collaboration, and a look at the Finnegan's Dogfish Head beer dinner.